Vehicle



J. W. COLLIER.

VEHICLE. APPLICATION FILED MAY 14. I921.

Patented July 4, 1922 2 SHEETS- SHEET I.

J. W. COLLIER.

VEHICLE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 14, 1921.

1,422,034, Patented July 4, 1922 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

, I ENTOR.

flw ATTORNEY-S -wh1ch, in this instance,

UNITED STATES PATENT I came JOSEPH W. COLLIER, 0F NEWARK, NEW Y0 PORA'IION, OF NEWARK, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW RR, ASSIGNOR TO ARCADIA TRAILER COR- YORK.

VEHICLE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH W. COLLIER, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Newark, in the county of Wayne and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Vehicles, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to vehicles and more particularly type, that is, the type having the central portion dropped or lowered with reference to the end portions, an object of this invention being to provide a construction which will be inexpensive to manufacture and at the same time strong and durable.

To this and other ends the invention consists of certain parts and combinations of parts, all of which will be hereinafter described, the novel features being pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side view of a vehicle -constructed in accordance with this invention, the wheels at one end being removed and the axle shown in'section;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail view showing the connection between the center beams or bars and the end beams or bars;

F Fig. 3 is an end view of the parts seen in ig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the vehicle; and

Fig. 5 is a sectional view on the line 5-5, Fig. 3, showing the manner in which the vehicle springs connect with the spaced plates through which the center beams are supported from the end beams.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, 1 indicates the end beams or bars are flanged such as the ordinaryI form and arranged in two pairs at opposite ends of the vehicle frame, the members of these stance, lying in the same horizontal plane, and one member of each pairbeing ali ed with one member of the other pair. t is preferred to connect the outer ends of each pair with a cross bar 2, brace plates 3 connecting said cross bar with the I beams or end bars 1. Arranged at the center of the Vehicle are two center beams 4, which are preferably of flanged construction as the ordinary I form and are positioned in a hOIlzontal plane below the end beams 1, each center bar or beam 4:, in this instance, lying in a vertical plane with two of the end beams Specification of Letters Patent.

to the drop frame two pairs, in this in-" liaten ted July 4, 1922. 1921. Serial No. 469,729.

1. Connection between the center beams 4 and the end beams 1 is preferably established. by providing at each end of each center beam'i, one or more sheet metal plates 5 which, when two are provided as in this form, are spaced apart between the beams 1 and 4; and bent inwardly at 5 over the lowermost flanges of the beam 1 and under the uppermost flanges of the beams 4 to be secured to the respective webs of said beams by rivets 6. It is preferred to bevel the opposite ends of the beams 4 at 4* for a purpose which will hereinafter be described.

- The Wheels 7 of the vehicle are preferably journalled on swinging spindles 8 mounted on axles 9 which are secured to the under side of leaf springs 10. Two leaf springs 10 are provided for each axle and these leaf springs are arranged, in this instance,.each in a vertical plane below one of the end bars or beams 1. Preferably the outer end of each spring is secured to a pivoted shackle 11 which is mounted on the adjacent end bar or beam, while the inner end of each spring 10 is secured to a bolt 12 which connects'the spaced plates 5 between the beams 1 and 4, the inner end of the spring extending between the plates to connect with said bolt and over the bevel 4* on the adjacent end of the beam 4, permitting the space between the plates to accommodate itself to the spring.

From the foregoing it will be seen that there has been provided a vehicle frame which has a drop center portion adapted for any desired purpose. This frame is formed from common flanged beams such as those of I form and has its center portion connected with the end portions in a strong and durable manner. The plates which form this connecting means are bent inwardly to engage the flanges of the beams, and make it possible to manufacture the frame less expensively. At the same time they may be spread apart to provide a space in which the springs of the vehicle may extend so that the axles of the vehicle may be situated in close proximity to the drop frame.

at I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A vehicle frame having a side formed by two end bars and a center bar arranged below the end bars, the end bars and the center bar each having at least one horizontally presented flange, and plates secured to opposite ends of the center bar and to the end bars, said plates being shaped to engage the flange of the center bar and the flanges of the end bars.

2. A vehicle frame comprising a side formed from two end bars, and a center bar arranged below the end bars, the end bars formed by two end bars and a center bar arranged below the end bars, the center bar being formed of stock of I shape in cross section arranged with the flanges extending horizontally and the web positioned vertically, and two plates connecting each end of the center bar with one of the end bars, each of said plates being secured to the web of the center bar and to the web of one of the end bars and being shaped to engage the under side of an uppermost flange of the center bar and the upper side of the lowermost flange of an end bar.

4; A vehicle frame comprising an end bar and a bar arranged belowsaid end bar both bars each having at least two horizontally arranged flanges extending in opposite directions, two plates connecting the bars and spaced apart, and a spring arranged below the end bar secured at one end to the latter and having its other end projecting between the two plates and secured to such plate.

5. A- vehicle frame comprising a side embodying an end bar and a bar arranged below the end bar, both bars each having at least two horizontally arranged flanges extending in opposite directions, and two plates connecting said bars and spaced to engage the upper side of the flanges of the end bar and the lower'side of the flanges of the other bar. 1

6. A vehicle frame comprising two pairs of end bars, two center bars dropped below the end bars, two plates connecting each end of each of the center bars with one of the end bars, each pair of plates being spaced of end bars formed of stock of I shape in cross section, two center bars dropped below the end bars and formed of stock of I shape in cross section, and two plates connecting each end of each of the center bars with one of the end bars,.each pair of plates being spaced apart between the bars and having their upper and lower edges secured to the webs of said end and center bars.

8. A vehicle frame comprising two pairs of endbars formed of stock of I shape in cross section, two center bars dropped below the end bars and formed of stock of I shape in cross section, two plates connecting each end of each of the center bars with one of the end bars, each pair of plates being spaced apart between the bars and having their upper and lower edges secured to the webs of said end and center bars, and springs arranged below. the end bars and each secured to an end bar at its outer end and having its inner end projected between two of the plates and secured to the latter.

9. A vehicle frame comprising two pairs of end bars formed of stock of I shape in cross section, two center bars dropped below the end bars and formed of stock of I shape in cross section, two plates connecting each end of each of the center bars with one of the end bars, each pair of plates being spaced apart between the bars and having their upper and lower edges secured to the webs of said end and center bars, and shackplates and'suitably secured.

JOSEPH W. COLLIER. 

